Clint Oldenburg: Ranking the Offensive Lines of Wild Card Weekend

By: The Football Girl | Posted: January 05, 2011

In my humble opinion, the most important offensive ingredient to playoff success is the run game.  Sure, high-flying passing attacks get all the attention, but this is January.  Freezing conditions and slippery fields can be treacherous. Control the clock, force opponents to respect your run game (the foray to opening up your play-action game), and you can win in the postseason.  That formula for success begins up front, with the offensive line.  Here's how the all-important lines stack up this wild card weekend:

1. New York Jets - The Jets haven't quite had the running game of 2009, but the offensive line is still playing very well together and gets my top rating heading into the first round.  Center Nick Mangold understands defenses and gets that line working as a unit every play.  They like to run the power play with the pulling guard until it pops for a big one, and I expect them to try to run the ball all day against the Colts to keep Freeney and Mathis in check.  PLAYER TO WATCH: RG Brandon Moore: He isn't as publicized as some of his linemates, but he's a very underrated and solid guard with great fundamentals. 

2. Philadelphia Eagles - No group personifies the word 'big' more than these guys.  The Eagles' line is massive (Average weight being just a biscuit under 340) and they can use that size against Green Bay as long as Andy Reid wants to run the ball with LeSean McCoy.  If they want to throw it all over the lot, you can bet the Packers will try to use speed to blitz the QB.  But as big as they are, they are a very effective screen team.  PLAYER TO WATCH: LT Jason Peters: Being in the NFC East, I see a lot of Eagles film and this guy is a star football player.  He's got great foot speed for a man “listed”  at 340.

3. Baltimore Ravens – Between the large offensive line and the short and nifty Ray Rice, the Ravens have a great combo. Rice is hard to find behind his line and I expect him to have a very busy day against the Chiefs.  Center Matt Birk is a crafty veteran who gets everything out of his teammates, as well as his own talent.  PLAYER TO WATCH: RT Marshal Yanda: His natural position is guard, but he's becomes the Ravens utility knife upfront, willing and able to start at any position he's needed.  He has a compelling matchup this week, facing Chiefs pass rusher Tamba Hali, who is second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks.

4. New Orleans Saints - The biggest challenge up front for the Saints this week is going to be the 12th man in Seattle.  That Qwest crowd is going to be fired up for its unexpected home playoff game, and this group will have to sit in there for Drew Brees' silent count to avoid any foolish false start penalties. They are one of the few teams in the league that likes to get a sixth lineman on the field (Zach Streif), for both run and pass. The Saints' two guards, Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, might be the best guard duo in the league.  PLAYER TO WATCH: LT Jermon Bushrod: Bushrod is an athletic and talented young tackle and I'm interested to watch him deal with Chris Clemons and company on the edge without the advantage of the snap count on his side.

5. Green Bay Packers - This is a hardworking front five who are better in pass protection than run blocking.  The RT is a rookie, Bryan Bulaga, who I think has been under the radar thus far.  He's got very good hands to shut down smaller pass rushers and plays with a lot of strength.  The guards are pretty solid and will need to continue that this weekend so Aaron Rodgers can step up in the pocket against the Eagles blitz package.  PLAYER TO WATCH: LT Chad Clifton: He's one of my favorite linemen to watch on tape because he has great technique and great feet.  His play picked up as the season went on, but he really struggled early on against Eagles DE Trent Cole.  

6. Kansas City Chiefs - The Chiefs'  two RB's who have combined to run for more than 2,300 yards and this line comes in sixth.  That just highlihgts the strength of the Top 5 units.  The Chiefs offense goes as the run game goes, but the Ravens pride themselves in stopping the run.  This game, more than any other, will fall directly to this offensive line.  If they can keep opening up holes and as a result, opening up play action for Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe, then the Chiefs will have a very good chance to win.  PLAYER TO WATCH: LT Branden Albert:  Albert had a tough game to finish the season vs. the Raiders and he's going to have to bounce back in a major way with Terrell Suggs coming in.  Albert will have the crowd on his side to help, and look for him to change up his pass sets to keep Suggs guessing.

7. Indianapolis Colts - This group has been criticized all year, but they always seem to get it together come playoff time.  They'll have their work cut out for them against the confusing Jets D, but they have the advantage of Peyton Manning and his quick release. Their success will be based on timing, so if they can get open, Jeff Saturday and his crew will be fine in pass protection.  And while I love watching the untraditional schemes of Howard Mudd, I don't see them getting much of a run game going -- unless the draw really starts to pop.  PLAYER TO WATCH: G's Kyle DeVan and Mike Pollack: The Jets disguise and disguise some more, with walked up safeties and LB's all over the line of scrimmage and it puts a lot of pressure on the interior of the offensive line. If these guys can stick to their rules and follow Manning's lead in picking it up, they'll be alright.

8. Seattle Seahawks: These guys have been decimated by injury all year, and now they've lost their LG for the playoffs.  Rookie LT Russel Okung has come back and done a nice job but as a whole they haven't opened up many running lanes or protected the passer real well.  But they're still in the playoffs and anything can happen.  The 'Hawks will be tested early and often by Saints defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, but if they can hold up, they will be able to keep it close.  But only if they can have a successful running game to keep Drew Brees off the field.  PLAYER TO WATCH: LG Tyler Polumbus: Polumbus, a former teammate of mine, is a natural tackle but due to injury is now the starting left guard.  He played pretty solid in the second half against St. Louis and how quickly he adjusts to the new position will have a lot to do with this groups success as a whole. 

Good luck to all these men that give it their all in the NFL's most thankless positions.

Hail!

Clint Oldenburg is an offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins, currently on injured reserve.  For more musings from Clint, check out his Player’s Perspective blog and be sure to follow him on Twitter.

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Coldenburg
Posts: 2

Re: Eagles not number2
Reply #2 on : Mon January 10, 2011, 08:54:42

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Yes, after that performance yesterday I clearly gave them too much credit. But give it up to Green Bay, what a great defensive game plan!

Stephen
Posts: 2

Eagles not number 2
Reply #1 on : Sun January 09, 2011, 18:28:24

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As a fan of the eagles. If ur watching the game. It is clearly visible that our o line has to be dead last haha